Can filling head



Dec. 11, 1962 Filed Sept. 25. 1959 FIE G. L. N. MEYER CAN FILLING HEAD 4 Sheeizs--Shee1l 1 'IPI' ||IIIIIIIIIIHIIIII'I VIELE ff wz@ l Dec. ll, 1962 G. L. N. MEYER 3,067,785

CAN FILLING HEAD 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 23, 1959 Dec. 11, 1962 G. l.. N. MEYER 3,067,785

- CAN FILLING HEAD Filed Sept. 25, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. l1, 1962 G. l.. N. MEYER CAN FILLING HEAD 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 25, 1959 afge ./Kyer :ZZYor/zey' United States Patent @i 3,067,785 CAN FILLING HEAD George L. N. Meyer, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Geo.

J. Meyer Manufacturing Co., Cudahy, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Sept. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 841,846 S Claims. (Cl. 141-57) This invention relates to iiller valves for counter-pressure can fillers and, more particularly, to a counter-pres- .sure filler valve adapted to increase the speed of iilling -cans with carbonated drinks such as beer.

Counter-pressure lfillers are usually employed to fill containers with carbonated beverages such as beer and so-called soda water drinks. In the filling operation problems arise in getting the beverage into the container with the least possible agitation so as to keep the CO2 gas in solution and to prevent foaming resulting from a loss of gas from the beverage.

One method of preventing agitation of the beverage is to employ a spreader element to direct the beverage onto the side of the can. This method has only been partially successful, however, in the case of cans due to the high speeds required of the liquid due to the restricted flow through the valves.

The present invention is designed to increase the speed of filling cans by both increasing the speed of flow of the liquid and by avoiding undue agitation.

The present invention has for an object increasing the 'speed of filling of a wide mouth container such as a iiat topV can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can iilling head for counter-pressure fillers which will vprovide a tangential component of ow of the liquid entering the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filler head for flat top cans or the like in which the liquid entering the can is directed toward the side of the can with a swirling motion.

A further object of the invention is to provide an accurate cutoff for inilowing liquid entering the can.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a iilling head for a counter-pressure filler which will insure substantially accurate volumetric filling of the can.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a filling head for counter-pressure can fillers in which the counter pressure air is Vented from the top of the can without passing through the liquid.

A. still further object of the invention is to deliver the liquid through a plurality of nozzles in a counter-pressure can lling machine in such a manner as to minimize drip from the nozzles following snifting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counterpressure filling head for cans in which the height of the cutoff of liquid may be adjusted.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a can filling head for counter-pressure iillers which will remove restrictions as to area and flow of liquid.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a can filling head which will preclude counter-pressure air in the can from bubbling through the liquid in the filler bowl.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a counter-pressure can filling head which will insure accurate seating of the liquid valve on its seat at the conclusion of the filling operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a can lling head employing nozzles to deliver the liquid in which drip from the nozzles subsequent to completion of the filling operation is precluded.

Still further objects of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following specification,

3,067,785 Patented Dec. 11, 1962 ice 2 which, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrates a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of the can filling head made in accordance with the present invention and showing the can sealing engagement therewith;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken through the center of the gas-charging valve showing the valve in closed position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view through the throat of the liquid valve showing the liquid valve in open position;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section similar to FIG. 3 showing the liquid valve in closed position;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 55 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the valve showing the liquid i nozzles and the air cutoif Valve.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the filler bowl may comprise an annular outer wall 12 connected integrally with Va bottom member 13. A civer (not shown) covers the open top of the filler bow The bowl is filled with liquid 14 to a predetermined height and gas under pressure supplied to the top ofthe filler bowl in an area designated 15 to keey carbon dioxide in solution in the liquid.

A plurality of apertures 16 is provided through the bottorn of the filler bowl about the periphery thereof to receive filling heads, generally designated 20, and forming the subject matter of the present invention.

The filling heads 20 are inserted through the bottom of the filler bowl and are retained therein by forked clamps 22 and bolts 23. The clamps 22 have outwardly extending fingers 24 (FIG. 3) which engage beneath outwardly extending lugs 25 on the exterior of the head to force the head into fixed engagement with the bottom of the filler bowl.

Packing members 26 (FIG. 3) prevent leakage of liquid from the filler bowl past the head 20.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the head has a valve stem 28 having a hollow passageway 29 therethrough which provides for the iiow of gas from the counter-pressure gas area 15 to the can 30 being filled.

The control of the flow to the can 3d1 is provided by a gas Vcontrol valve, generally designated 32 and shown in detail in FIG. 2. The gas valve 32 is built with a sleeve 34 pressed upwardly by a weak compression spring 35 and having apertures 36 therethrough for the passage of gas.

A valve seat 37 is provided in a head 3S on the sleeve and seats against the top of the valve stern 28 so that when the valve 32 is raised air or other suitable gas passes through the aperture 3.6 and downwardly through the hollow passageway 29 into the can 30.

The head 38 is raised by a cam follower 40 which presses upwardly against the bottom of a spool head to raise the valve. Actutaion of the follower is by means of a cam carried on the exterior of the bowl.

The valve stern 28 passes downwardly through a spring housing 43, which spring housing forms an extension of a valve cage 45. The spring housing has a pair of oppositely spaced apertures 46 which permit the entrance of liquid into the interior of the spring housing 43 and the iiow downward through the opening 47 and the valve cage 45.

A second plurality of openings through the valve cage 45. is shown at d8. The liquid entering through the apertures 46, 47, and 48 passes downward through a venturi throat 52. The valve stem 2S extends downward through the passage 52 and through an opening in a valve body 55.

The valve body 55 has an annular opening containing te a `v'block packing S6 surrounding the stern 28 to prevent passage of liquid through the valve body. The lower end of the stem 28 mounts an O-ring 57 which seats in an annular recess 58 in the lower portion of the body to stop leakage of gas upwardly during the time the liquid Valve is open and the can is charged with gas. The venturi throat 52 heretofore mentioned conducts liquid downward from the bowl to a liquid poppet valve 60.

` The liquid valve 60 is fixed to the valve stern 28 through a spider 6!)r with a loose fit so as to give the valve 6i) suliicient movement to insure an even seating of the valve 60 on the valve seat 61. The connection between the spider and the valve stem is effected by means of a spring washer 63. The valve 60 is provided with a downwardly extended knobbed member 65 which receives an annular rubber moldment 66 having two annular faces seating on the annular faces of the valve seat 61. The valve seat contains openings which communicate with nozzles 68 opening into the can 30.

The nozzles 68 pass outwardly and downwardly and are formed with both and outward component and a tangential component so that the liquid entering the can 30 does so with an outward movement and a spinning movement and thus follows the contour of the can downwardly to the bottom and avoids agitation of the liquid.

The spring housing 43 contains a iight compression spring 61' which is mounted between a shoulder 62 in the valve cage and a cylindrical guide block 64 slidably fitting the upper end of the spring housing. An O-ring 64 locates the guide block symmetrically on the valve stem 28 so that the normal pressure of the spring upwardly on the guide block 64 tends to open the valve 60` against the downward pressure of the liquid thereabove.

The llower end of the valve body 55 is provided with a threaded aperture 70l into which the valve stern 28 discharges. A ball cage 72, having an inturned upper end 74, receives a soft rubber insert 75 having a hollow throat therethrough communicating with the hollow valve stem 28 to form a soft rubber seat 77 of large diameter for a ball valve 76.

The ball valve 76 is made of thin hollow plastic so as to be light and float high on the liquid rising in the can. The 'valve cage 72 is threaded on its upper end to be received in the threaded aperture 7lv in the valve body 55 and be secured therein by a lock nut 78. The cage 72 may therefore be adjustably located in the valve body S to vary the height of the mouth of the orice and therefore vary the cutoif point for the ll.

At the conclusion of the lling operation the nozzles 68 extend beneath the surface of the liquid in the can at -which point the ball 76 rises into engagement with the seat 77 in the throat and cuts off the ow of air from the Vtop of the can to the counterpressure gas l5.

At this point the cam follower 4tllowers, closing the gas valve 32, and continues to lower to close the liquid valve 68, thus delinitely breaking communication between the interior of the bowl and the can 30.

At this point in the rotation of the bowl a cam (not shown) on the frame of the machine strikes a button 80 on a snift valve 8.1, permitting air to pass from the top of the can through the connecting passages 84, 85, 86 and S7 and outwardly through the snift valve, reducing the preslsure in the top ofthe can 38 to atmospheric.

The can is then lowered on a stirrup (not shown) out of engagement with a sealing rubber 88 and out of the passageway of a collar 89 and is removed from the filling machine by a star wheel (not shown) and transmitted to the capper.

Operation In operation, cans 38 are seated on two stirrups (not shown) by a `star wheel (not shown) as the liller rotates vabout a fixed center. The stirrups raise the cans 3() into contact with `the packing 88 applying force beneath the fi.- can to -form a leak-proof seal between the can and the packing 88.

After the seal is made with the packing 88, a cam (not shown) on the stationary part of the filler raises a follower 40, contacting the spool top 41 to open the gas control valve 32 and permit air to pass through the aperture 36 and downwardly through the center vent opening 29' in the valve stem 28, through the throat .of the rubber nipple 75, past the valve 76, which is then off its seat and resting on a counter pin 90, and into the can.

Pressure within the can then builds up to a pressure equal to the pressure of the gas 15 in the top of the ller bowl. It will be noted at this point that the gas valve is held ofi its seat by pressure of the spring 3S. As the pressure in the can builds up, pressure likewise builds up beneath the liquid Valve 68, the pressure being transmitted from the can upwardly through the nozzles 68.

When pressure in the can is substantially equal to pressure in the top of the bowl, the pressure beneath the valve 60, augmented by the pressure of the spring 61' acting on the guide block 64, combines to open the Valve 60. Once the valve 60 is olf its seat sufficiently, the spring 61 takes effect to raise it to full open position.

Liquid then flows from the ller bowl downwardly through the apertures 46, 47 and 48, through the venturi throat 52, through the valve 60, past the moldrnent 66, through the nozzles 68 and into the can 30.

As the liquid passes through the nozzles 68, the outward components of the nozzles give the liquid a radially outward velocity and the tangential components Iof the nozzles impart a spin, which movements combine to cause the liquid to pass outwardly in a radially expanding spiral into contact with the sides of the can and ilow smoothly down the side as the liquid rotates. This spin causes the liquid to reach the bottom of the can in a smooth flowing motion and prevents agitation of the liquid entering the can.

As liquid enters the can counter-pressure gas is displaced upwardly past the ball check valve 76, through the hollow throat in the nipple 7S, back up through the passage 29 in the valve stern 28, through the valve 32, and back into the top of the bowl.

When the liquid rises in the can 3l)` sul'iciently to float the valve 76, it rises with the liquid covering the lower tips of the nozzles 68. The valve 76 then rises until it is about to contact the nipple. During this period of the liquid risP ing in the can 30, gas is being ejected through the softrub ber insert or nipple and upwardly into the upper part of the iller bowl.

As the Valve 76 approaches the mouth of the nipple 75, the area for this escape gas becomes smaller, thus increasing in speed through the nipple 75. This increase in speed tends to draw the ball into the mouth of the nipple, thus shutting off the flow of air completely from the can to the ller bowl.

As soon as the ow of gas from the can is shut otf by sealing of the ball 76 and the nipple 75, further rising of the liquid in the can creates additional pressure on the top of the liquid in the can over and above the pressure of the liquid acting downwardly from the bowl, which rise in pressure of the liquid in the can stops the flow of liquid through the valve 60- and stops further iilling of the can.

At this point in the cycle a cam (not shown) contacts the follower 40, closes the gas valve 32, and continues its downward motion to close the liquid valve 6G. When the valve 68 is closed another cam (not shown) contacts the button 88 to open the snifter valve 81 and permit air under pressure in the top of the can to pass upwardly through the connecting passageways 84, 85, 86, and 87 and outward to the atmosphere.

The can may then be lowered by the stirrups (not shown) out of contact with the sealing rubber 88 and past the collar 89 to permit the can to be removal from the lling machine by a star wheel and transferred to a capper where it is capped and sealed.

It will be realized that the hereinbefore described form of the invention is merely a preferred embodiment thereof and that Various `changes in size, shape, `and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

That which is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a counter-pressure lling head for flat top cans or the like, a vertically movable valve stem' having a passage extending longitudinally therethrough, a gas control Valve at the upper end of said valve stem adapted to admit counter-pressure gas through said stem and into the can, a plurality of nozzles extending into said can, a liquidcontrol annular poppet valve vertically movable with said stern to control the flow of liquid through all of said nozzles, and

an air check valve located below said stem to check the flow of gas from the can when the liquid in the can reaches a predetermined level.

2. In a counter-pressure lling head for flat top cans or the like, a vertically movable valve `stem having a passage extending longitudinally therethrough, a gas control valve at the upper end of said valve stem adapted to admit counter-pressure gas through said stem and into the can, a plurality of downwardly and outwardly extending nozzles opening into said can and adapted to deliver liquid to the inner surface of the can during filling, an annular liquid control poppet valve carried by said valve stem and vertically movable therewith to control the iiow of liquid through all of said nozzles.

3. A counter-pressure can lling head adapted to ll flat top cans or the like comprising, a hollow valve stem, -a gas valve at the top of said stem, means to open said gas valve mechanically to permit gas to iiow through said stem and into a can to be filled, a spider secured on said stem, an annular liquid poppet valve secured on said spider, a valve seat beneath said liquid valve, a plurality of nozzles controlled by said valve, said nozzles having both tangential and radial components adapted to deliver the liquid from the liquid valve against the side of the can in a descending spiral, a oat valve adapted to permit air to ow upward through said valve stern including a ball adapted to iioat on the surface of the liquid as the can approaches lling height to close the opening to the valve stem, and means to close both the liquid valve and the gas valve subsequent to the closing of the float valve.

4. A counter-pressure can iilling head adapted to iill flat top cans or the like comprising, a hollow valve stem, a gas valve at the top of said stem, means to open said gas valve mechanically to permit gas to flow through said stem 'and into la can to be lled, a spider secured on said stem, an annular liquid poppet valve secured on said spider, a valve seat beneath said liquid valve, a plurality of nozzles having both tangential and radial components opening into the bottom of the valve seat and adapted to deliver the liquid from the liquid valve against the side of the can in a descending spiral, a iioat valve having an opening above the ends of the nozzles adapted to permit air to flow upward through said valve stem including a ball adapted to iioat on the surface of the liquid as the can approaches illing height to close the opening to the valve stem, means to close both the liquid valve `and the gas valve subsequent to the closing of the float valve, a snift valve communicating with the can above the level of the liquid therein to vent -air from the top of the `can-s subsequent to the closing of the liquid valve.

5. A can iilling head for use in can fillers, comprising a valve seat having a plurality of openings therethrough, said openings having nozzles both radially and tangentially disposed to direct the liquid being filled onto the interior of the can in a descending spiral, and a single poppet valve element above and seatable on said seat adapted to control the flow of liquid through all said openings.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 716,724 Lassoe et al. Dec. 23, 1902 2,006,393 Hapgood July 2, `1935 2,063,326 Meyer Dec. 8, 1936 2,243,463 Kerr May 27, 1941 2,613,864 Carter Oct. 14, 1952 2,716,517 Tollberg Aug. 30, 1955 2,953,169 Breeback Sept. 20, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,673 Great Britain Mar. 12, 1900 185,640 Great Britain Sept. 14, 1922 

